What do you see in 2007?

[houstonmacbro]

As we get closer to 2007, I wanted to know if anyone has (world, city, self) predictions, insights, or just plain old 'wants' for 2007.

Iraq

I have a feeling we are gonna get out of Iraq or at least start pulling back, but not before we have MORE troops there for the first part of 2007. I think by November/December of next year we might start to see a draw down, but I do feel the country is gonna be split up and a unified Iraq is gonna be a pipe dream.

The Economy

I do feel we are gonna have a big slowdown sometime in 2007, but it is gonna be a quick rebound.

Travel

I wanna travel to Great Britain and possibly to Brazil. Of course this means getting my passport!

Job

I feel that I will get a promotion. (**I wonder if my boss is reading this!?!**)

Computer

I plan on getting a new computer, probably a Macbook by the summer 2007. Can't wait. This old Powerbook seems to be getting slower and slower with each new release by Apple. Of course, it's not, but it is just my perception.

There's probably more stuff, but I'll probably just blog about it.

[bachanon]

As we get closer to 2007, I wanted to know if anyone has (world, city, self) predictions, insights, or just plain old 'wants' for 2007.

Iraq

I have a feeling we are gonna get out of Iraq or at least start pulling back, but not before we have MORE troops there for the first part of 2007. I think by November/December of next year we might start to see a draw down, but I do feel the country is gonna be split up and a unified Iraq is gonna be a pipe dream.

The Economy

I do feel we are gonna have a big slowdown sometime in 2007, but it is gonna be a quick rebound.

Travel

I wanna travel to Great Britain and possibly to Brazil. Of course this means getting my passport!

Job

I feel that I will get a promotion. (**I wonder if my boss is reading this!?!**)

Computer

I plan on getting a new computer, probably a Macbook by the summer 2007. Can't wait. This old Powerbook seems to be getting slower and slower with each new release by Apple. Of course, it's not, but it is just my perception.

There's probably more stuff, but I'll probably just blog about it.

hmmmmmmmmmmm, i looook intoo my creestal ball and i see..........i seeeeeeeeuh

more prosperity for houston, less for the rest of the country.

possession of small amounts of drugs will become a misdemeanor.

my nephew (i'm his guardian) will continue with his b average and get his first real job. he will continue to be an asset to his high school football program as a varsity player.

i will reconnect with old friends.

one or more new hi-rise structures will be announced for houston.

nancy pelosi will put her foot in her mouth to the chagrine of the moderate democrats.

christmas retail sales figures will be the best in years.

the US will become increasingly tired of iraq, but the necessity of staying in iraq will become more pronounced. it is a good time to adopt a soldier. they are caught in the middle of this issue and it's not their fault. support a soldier before you attend an anti-war rally.

the woodlands town center will recieve three new midrises and two more will be announced.

the new season of "the L word" will take up space on my DVR.

john mccain will appear to be the "republican" front runner for '08 but will be eclipsed by a different figure near the end of '07.

anne rice will release a new book.

houston will have another mild summer.

home values along north millbend in grogan's mill, the woodlands, will increase in value another 10 to 20%.

the woodlands will open new sections of east shore and waterway square will be completed.

my buddy "d" and his wife "a" will concieve their second bambino.

this exhausts me. i'll have more "crystal ball" predictions later on.

[houstonmacbro]

wow ... you see all that?

hey, have you noticed that the galleria (i guess officially uptown) from certain high vantage points has a skyline that is actually a challenge to downtown.

[bachanon]

ummm, yeah. as does the medical center. i had a friend's friend sleep over one year who was from the midwest. he kept asking, "is that downtown?"............"is that downtown?". he concluded that houston had several "downtowns".

[TheNiche]

wow ... you see all that?

hey, have you noticed that the galleria (i guess officially uptown) from certain high vantage points has a skyline that is actually a challenge to downtown.

This is the only shot of the Uptown skyline that I've got here at work. I've got better at home, though.

And if this looks fake, it is only because it is fake. The actual photo had such terrible lighting and grainyness (nine miles of distance between you and the subject will do that) that I opted to play with the midtone brightness and contrast levels to produce this image.

ummm, yeah. as does the medical center. i had a friend's friend sleep over one year who was from the midwest. he kept asking, "is that downtown?"............"is that downtown?". he concluded that houston had several "downtowns".

It may as well. Heck, downtown Houston doesn't account for more than about 6% of total regional employment.

Edited November 20, 2006 by TheNiche

[bachanon]

i don't know if i actually posted it, but i read recently in the census figures, that downtown houston has only 150K workers. that is close to 6% of greater houston's population. i also saw that harris county has 1.7 million jobs. that's amazing to me. less than ten percent of harris county jobs are in downtown houston.

my crystal ball tells me that there will be more new jobs outside of downtown houston in '07 than in the CBD.

[TheNiche]

i don't know if i actually posted it, but i read recently in the census figures, that downtown houston has only 150K workers. that is close to 6% of greater houston's population. i also saw that harris county has 1.7 million jobs. that's amazing to me. less than ten percent of harris county jobs are in downtown houston.

my crystal ball tells me that there will be more new jobs outside of downtown houston in '07 than in the CBD.

...and mine says that a big chunk of them will be the Energy Corridor, with another big chunk in the TMC. The rest shall be scattered to the winds.

[bachanon]

ditto that.

[Houston1stWordOnTheMoon]

For 2007

I see 4 trips to Great Britain and atleast 10 to Germany with my work year ending about Sept. 2007 if i am good.

I see my kids asking for more money.

I see myself giving it to them ;)

I see another hot summer.

I see maybe more hurricane activity.

[ssullivan]

For me, 2007 will bring a major decision regarding whether I move or stay in Houston. And if I stay in Houston, probably the purchase of a condo or townhome. At work, hopefully a year that is a little less busy than this one has been, but still busy enough that my job and income remain secure. And in my personal life, hopefully closer relationships with my existing friends, new friendships with people I have not met yet, and hopefully the development of a special relationship with someone.

[Houston1stWordOnTheMoon]

Also for 2007, I see myself getting banished to the couch much less than in 2006

[DJ V Lawrence]

As we get closer to 2007, I wanted to know if anyone has (world, city, self) predictions, insights, or just plain old 'wants' for 2007.

Iraq

It's already a bad situation for 2007. I have friends who were already deployed there before scheduled to go back again for ANOTHER year-long tour Summer 2007. National Guard, Reserves, Active Duty, the whole shibangabang. Thanks to Democrats running Congress and Republicans (Bush) in the Executive position, I predict the war to become even more politically influenced next year than this year. You'll hear the words "Public Relations" pop up quite a bit in 2007

The Economy

I think things will be steady unless a major disaster comes through.

Travel

I've started a business in Korea last month and Houston this past August. www.wellnessultra.com . (Click on United States. Cheap plug, I know:) But yea, because of it, I'm going to Korea at least 4 times, Miami in March for WMC, Netherlands/England at least once, and that's all in 2007!

Job

My business will grow rapidly, I'll help other 20-somethings in Houston and Asia make it big, travel a lot, and I'll hopefully FINALLY release my house/trance album in stores next year. I'll also produce a few albums for some up-and-coming hip-hop artists

Sports

I think more people in the states will become soccer fans if the U.S. does well at Copa America in Venezuela 2007. I also think Dynamo will repeat, and the stadium debate's gonna be taken to a whole different level when more rumors start up of different possible locations and public involvement.

The Texans will get another good draft pick, but one that would give the Texans immediate results, because McNair will have no patience left next year. I think the Cowboys will improve a lot more with Romo starting the season off as starter. Texans still won't make the playoff next year, but will be a major spoiler. I give the Texans 2-3 seasons before they're playoff contenders.

All three Texas NBA teams will make it to the playoffs, and I think all three will make it to the 2nd round at minimum.

The Astros will be World Series Champions in 2007...IF we don't trade any of our starters, and we resign Clemens, Huff, and Pettite. We'll have the strongest line-up, bench, and starter-pitching line-up in the MLB.

Houston Comets will remain competitive, and very well may end up back in the glory days of being Champs again, too.

It will be a crazy year for Houston sports. We had a NL Championship in 2005 and the MLS title for 2006. 2007 will see both in one year, plus really competitive basketball.

The Rangers will improve but won't make the playoff. They'll be close though. I give them 2 years.

Houston Architecture

I think the Astrodome Hotel idea will finally become a construction project. I also think you'll hear a development announcement on the Astroworld site. I think you may finally hear an announcement on a new major skyscraper downtown to add to the skyline. Downtown will become more vibrant in 2008 after the park and Pavillions are 100% complete, but I predict the area of town with the most development announcements will be MidTown.